A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial to Increase the Sustainment of an Indoor–Outdoor-Free-Play Program in Early Childhood Education and Care Services
A Study Protocol for the Sustaining Play, Sustaining Health (SPSH) Trial
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15512800 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Noor Imad (0000-0002-0625-2407, Deakin University, corresponding author), Nicole Pearson (0000-0003-2677-2327, Hunter Medical Research Institute), Alix Ivers (0000-0002-1043-6110, Hunter Medical Research Institute), Adam Shoesmith (0000-0002-3105-8833, Hunter Medical Research Institute), Nicole Nathan (0000-0002-7726-1714, Hunter Medical Research Institute), Luke Giles (0000-0002-6849-9325, Hunter New England Local Health District), Alice Grady (0000-0003-3379-5340, Hunter Medical Research Institute), Serene Yoong (0000-0002-0836-017X, Deakin University) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 5043-5043 |
| Publication date | 2023-03-13 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph20065043 |
| PMID | 36981955 |
| OpenAlex | W4324056840 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 64 |
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings are important environments to support children's physical activity (PA). In 2021, COVID-19 regulations recommended the provision of indoor-outdoor free-play programs in ECEC settings to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, resulting in an increased uptake of this practice. As the context has since changed, research suggests that ECEC services could cease the implementation of these practices. Therefore, this pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a sustainment strategy to ensure the ongoing implementation (sustainment) of ECEC-delivered indoor-outdoor free-play programs. Twenty ECEC services located in New South Wales, Australia that have implemented indoor-outdoor free-play programs since the release of COVID-19 guidelines will be recruited. The services will be randomly allocated either the sustainment strategy or usual care. The "Sustaining Play, Sustaining Health" program consists of eight strategies, developed to address key barriers against and facilitators of sustainment informed by the Integrated Sustainability Framework. The outcomes will be assessed via internal project records, staff surveys, and a self-reported measure of free play. This study will provide important data to support the performance of a fully powered trial within Australian ECEC settings and to inform the development of future sustainment strategies
Business · Context (archaeology · Early childhood · Early childhood education · Environmental health · Geography · Health care · Medical education · Pedagogy · Political science · Randomized controlled trial · Sustainability · Children's Physical and Motor Development · Infant Development and Preterm Care · Medicine · Nursing · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology
The sustainability of new programs and innovations
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| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |